MAY THE BOMB BOW TO FOOTBALL FOREVER

MAY THE BOMB BOW TO FOOTBALL FOREVER

Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua

Join me dear compatriots to eulogise the Nigerian youths, our pride and hope for a better tomorrow. Let every Nigerian wear each player of the FIFA UNDER 17 a golden crown. These boys have told the whole world that Nigeria is not all bad news as it is being portrayed in the foreign media. How can Nigerians ever forget the Friday of November 9, 2013 when even the bombs remained silent and forgot to blast in the terrorists’ empires of our dear native land, Nigeria! Perhaps the suicide bombers were in a rhapsody of the thoughts of what youths should be used for. The value of a responsible youth lies in the honour and glory that he offers to the parents instead of shame and disgrace for whatever reason. Let us raise our cups in honour of these most fantastic youths of the century for making Nigerians proud even as our respectable senators refused to say “nay” to the extension of the state of emergency in the terrorist territories.  Congratulation Nigeria! Congratulation Golden Eaglets! May your football continue to blast in the place of the bombs!

These boys have broken into the memory of my early days, when as a youth, I thought I could read the “Complete works of William Shakespeare”. Unfortunately, I could not go beyond Act 1, Scene 1 of Twelfth Night. I feel like acting this drama for these wonderful boys but it is more honourable to leave that for Peter Edochie and his colleagues who are endowed with this noble gift. However we can recall the joy of   Orsino, Curio and other lords when the musicians were playing for them. Orsino said, “If music be the food of love, play on. Give me excess of it”. In the same way, I could hear many Nigerians saying: If football will bring unity to Nigeria, then let us play on. In fact, give us essence of it. Football does not discriminate against Christians, Muslims and Traditional Religions. A good football team is not divided like some political parties with conflicting ideologies.  A good football team then, is what a nation should be with a team spirit. All hail Nigeria! Before the beginning of any match the members of the team put their heads together with their hands on their shoulders and bow in prayers to the God of peace and unity. The players are selected from all tribes and religions to make a team. The footballers therefore testify that God is one and undivided. This confirms that no religion preaches violence and the God of the nations will not disappointed us if we have a sincere sense of purpose. May those who cause discord, hatred, bitterness, sorrow and mischief in the name of their self made god bow to the God of peace and be converted to direct the course of our youths in the right path instead of using them to destroy innocent people!   

Football has become an outward sign of the inner energy in Nigeria. We have all that it takes to be first among equals. Many Nigerian footballers compete in Europe. Today, Nigeria can be endorsed as having the finest national team in the world not just in Africa. We have produced many international footballers. This confirms too that Nigeria has some of the best brains in the world. Some Nigeria experts can produce manually what the foreign experts can only produce with computers and sophisticated instruments. Why not support our government to make Nigeria great? Why should some continue to destroy while others are sweating to build? Let this joy that is resounding in all the corners of our nation at this victory extend to the acceptance of what we have, what we are and who we are. Arise oh brothers and sisters to the mission of Nigeria to reach our Vision. May we reach where we want to go and attain the goal we have set for ourselves!

If we want to count our football blessings, how many can we count? Once upon a time, FIFA World Ranked the Green Eagles the 5th best team in the Confederation of African Football. On October 8, 1949, even before our independence, the Nigeria national football team won Sierra Leone in Freetown 2-0 in its first international match. Of course we can not forget the victory of 10-1 against the Republic of Benin. Our Youths won the inaugural FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 1985, 1993 and 2007. Bravo our Golden Eaglets! May your wings continue to spread and fly until you penetrate the clouds akin to our "Flying Eagles" who qualified for the first time to represent Africa in the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship in Mexico beating the famous USSR 1-0! Do we continue to count? In 1985, our Golden Eaglets won the world cup in the maiden FIFA Under-17 World Championship in China. This was our breakthrough in international competitions.  I cannot forget the "Miracle at Damman" when our team erased a 4-0 deficit to the Soviet Union to tie and then win by penalties. In 2007, our boys in the Golden Eaglets were crowned world champions in South Korea. What about the golden medal that our under -23 won in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta? We defeated Brazil 4-3 and won the final against Argentina 3-2! “Who say we no dey”? I beg, clap for Nigeria! What about our women? The great Super Falcons, who have qualified for every FIFA Women's World Cup and won the first seven CAF Women's Championships until 2008 against Equatorial Guinea. Many Nigerians were thrilled with the style of Mercy Akide, Maureen Mmadu and Perpetua Nkwocha who play better than some men.

We can go on and on but my aim is not to give a chronology of our football history. This is only to prove that we can do better than bomb blasting and terrorist activities. That we can do better than making corruption our emblem and royal heritage. Yes, our Golden Eaglets have proven that the energy for kidnapping, armed bandit and all types of crime can be channelled to something more honourable to put smiles on our faces instead of unnecessary drizzling tears from our “eagle eyes”. With the laurels of football we are acknowledged and appreciated everywhere in the world. There is so much capacity in our citizens. Before now, Nigeria employed foreign engineers to build and manage our industries. They employed foreign couches to train our footballers. Today, Stephen Keshi has proven that experts can also come from Nigeria. It is what you call your home that others will help you to call it. Join me then in acclamation, “All hail Nigeria, hail to the Golden Eaglets, Nigeria shall survive!”  Let us sound our trumpets and remind the whole world that “Nigeria is great and full of surprises!” 

Now is the time for us to build on our integrity and resources. We can not remain in the euphoria of winning the world cup and relapse into despair and fear again. We have celebrated our victory of the Africa Cup of Nations in 1980 and 1994. May this 2013 jubilation usher us into a new era whose flames will never be put off again. May what has reached our hands also reach our mouths. May no weapons fashioned against us by our National and international enemies prosper! May God continue to protect our youths! May there be no vacancy in the devils’ industry for them!   May those of them who are presently roaming the streets have a place to earn their daily bread! May we excel in other sectors even better than we have become famous in football! May the joy of the Lord continue to be our strength! Long live the Golden Eaglets! Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria! God bless the President of Nigeria! God bless the leadership of Nigeria! God bless the citizens of Nigeria! “Amen!  Amen! Power and Glory, honour and thanksgiving belongs to you Lord God both now and forever! Take glory, God Almighty and be exalted! Remain the good God of Nigeria forever and ever! Amen”! 

Fr. Prof. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua is the Director of Mission and Dialogue of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja and Consultor of the Commission for Religious Relations with Muslims (C.R.R.M), Vatican City